Virginia wheat forecast up from May

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia’s winter wheat production is forecast to be higher than thought a month ago. The state’s 2014 winter wheat production is forecast at 16.4 million bushels, up three percent from the May 1 forecast but down four percent from 2013.

Average yield is forecast at 62 bushels per acre, up two bushels from last month but unchanged from last year. The current Virginia forecast is almost 20 bushels higher than the national average of 42.4 bushels per acre. As of early June, the majority of Virginia’s winter wheat crop is in fair to good condition.

This is based on June 1 conditions as surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

For the previous month’s forecast, see vdacs.virginia.gov/news/releases-a/051214wheat.shtml.

Nationally, winter wheat production is forecast at 1.38 billion bushels, down two percent from the May 1 forecast and down ten percent from 2013. Based on June 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 42.4 bushels per acre, down 0.7 bushel from last month and down five bushels from last year.